A man who bit a police constable on her arm as she tried to enforce coronavirus lockdown rules has been branded “the lowest of the low” by her chief constable.

The PC was bitten when she and officers attended a disturbance in Rochdale on Thursday evening, where they tried to explain to the man that he shouldn’t be going to other people’s houses, Greater Manchester Police.

As they tried to talk to him, two officers were punched and one of them — a 21-year-old officer — was seriously bitten.

Words fail me when it comes to some people's behaviour. This is shocking at the best of times, but during a Coronavirus Pandemic this is just the lowest of the low. I trust the CPS & Court will now do what we all expect of them! https://t.co/1lpSonOgol

Greater Manchester Police chief constable Ian Hopkins shared the force’s graphic picture of the bite mark on the officer’s arm in a tweet that was later shared by Home Secretary Priti Patel, saying: “Words fail me when it comes to some people's behaviour.

“This is shocking at the best of times, but during a Coronavirus Pandemic this is just the lowest of the low. I trust the CPS & Court will now do what we all expect of them!”

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Greater Manchester Police said the officer had to attend hospital following the incident in Drake Street on Thursday at about 6.40pm and was later discharged.

Days earlier she had been delivering Easter eggs to children while out on patrol, the force said.

In a statement GMP said a 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, domestic violence assault, assault with intent to resist arrest and a breach of the laws around coronavirus.

Superintendent Richard Hunt, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “No police officer should have to come to work – doing a job to serve and protect our communities – and be assaulted.

“It is absolutely disgusting that my officer was faced with this last night and all of our thoughts are with her as she rests at home.

“I recognise that the pictures we are releasing today are quite graphic but I hope they help people to understand the vicious nature of this attack and I know that the people of Greater Manchester will join me in wishing our officer a fast and peaceful recovery.

He added: “This is a particularly challenging time for everybody at the moment, made worse by something so mindless like this.

“Having spoken to the officer earlier this morning, she said that last night’s incident was a stark contrast to the support she has felt over the past few days, whilst she has been delivering Easter eggs to local children whilst out on patrol.

“This just goes to show that thankfully, incidents like this are not a reflection of the vast majority of the public, who are showing great support to us.”